WALES has been treated like an “invisible nation” by Olympics bosses who have refused to acknowledge the nation in the run-up to the 2012 games, campaigners have said.

The International Olympic Committee has been criticised for failing to respond to an approach from an Assembly committee hoping to discuss proposals to allow Wales to compete in the games in its own right.

The Christian group behind the petition said it was disappointed that tens of millions of pounds of lottery funding has been diverted away from Welsh charities to pay for the London Games, but the country itself is not acknowledged.

Geraint Tudur, general secretary of the Union of Independent Churches, petitioned the National Assembly two years ago to ask whether a Welsh team could compete in the Olympics.

But the IOC’s failure to respond to repeated inquiries by a committee chair has led to criticism from the church leaders.

“Looting Welsh charities to pay for an event which will bring little benefit to our country is a great injustice,” said Dr Tudur.

“We consider it our Christian duty to stand against any threat to charities that help the needy and vulnerable.”

He added that Wales was being treated in a deplorable manner by the IOC.

“Wales is an invisible nation,” he said. “As far as the IOC is concerned, we do not exist. One presumes that the same applies to Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is shocking and shameful.”

She said: “The committee finds it deeply regrettable that you have not seen fit to reply to enquiries made by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales, the democratically elected body representing the people of Wales,” she said.

In a reply via the British Olympic Association, the body pointed out that Welsh athletes can only compete at the Olympic Games as part of Team GB.

“The Assembly Government should at least insist that our young people are allowed to display the Red Dragon in London.”

But last night Ian Jenkins director of Cycling Development at Welsh Cycling, the governing body for cycling in Wales, said Welsh athletes benefit from funding by being part of the British team.

“It has long been recognised that Wales does not have capacity to develop athletes at this level, nor is there a need to when the UK governing bodies cater for all home nations, with demonstrated success and fairness to athletes,” he said.

“Our strategic plan accepts we are best placed to ensure a robust, sustainable throughput of young athletes, allowing British Cycling to find talent and best develop it.”

He said examples of Welsh gold-winning Olympic cyclists like Geraint Thomas and Nicole Cooke proved being part of the British team had helped them.

“Geraint achieved in the team pursuit event – with three other home nation athletes. At the time of Beijing, Wales did not have sufficient athletes at this level to achieve gold.

“Nicole won the Women’s road race, a team event where colleagues’ support ensured she arrived at the finish in the best condition.

“Nicole has previously won the Commonwealth Games equivalent event, but after winning in Manchester, took bronze in Melbourne and fifth in Delhi.

“Unfortunately, finding a team of supporting athletes for the world’s best female cyclist has proven elusive for Wales, but the talent pool and support offered at a GB level ensured she could achieve at Olympic and world level.”

A spokeswoman for the BOA said: “ None of the home nations are recognised by the IOC.

“The British Olympic Association is the recognised body which selects the team and takes them to the Games.”